This is yet another charming instalment in a series I turn to whenever I need a true escape. I can see the sweeping Scottish landscapes, smell the salty sea breeze, and feel the warmth of the fire crackling in a quiet cottage. There’s something deeply comforting about the close-knit communities, the gentle humour, and the friendships that feel stronger than the fiercest coastal winds.

At its heart, this is a story about rediscovering love—not the fairy-tale kind, but the kind that slowly grows in the quiet aftermath of heartbreak. That feeling when the ground has disappeared beneath your feet, when the world keeps turning and you’re not sure how to move with it. So you retreat—to Scotland, to a grandmother’s cottage, waiting for life to apologise.

But it doesn’t. And instead, you’re forced to step outside, to reconnect, and to finally face the emotions you buried long ago.

Gentle, heartfelt, and full of soul—this book is like a lighthouse itself: steady, comforting, and quietly powerful.

I feel like this book started so strongly and then just lost its way slightly in the middle, I loved the previous book I had read by this author so maybe that made my expectations a little too high. This is a good book with some stunning location descriptions but for some reason I just couldn’t bond with the main male character.

🩷 Blurb -
Rosie spent her summers at her late grandmother’s coastal cottage in the Highlands and knows it’ll be the perfect place to wallow for a while. Even better that there’s a gorgeous lighthouse and dolphins in the bay.
What Rosie didn’t expect was to bump into the new lighthouse keeper, Mitch. Despite her recent heartbreak, Rosie finds herself fascinated by the mysterious Mitch. As they spend more time together, is it possible that he needs Rosie every bit as she needs him…
❤️ Review -
This was such a beautiful and heartwarming novel. Everything about this book was perfect. The story was easy to follow and had a great cast of characters. The place settings in the book sounded beautiful. I loved Rosie and Mitch's characters and I wanted them to have their happy ending. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my arc copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the advanced reader copy!

I was so excited about this since I’m a sucker for the Scottish settings, but it was really hard to enjoy. The writing wasn’t flowing and didn’t capture my attention. I’m usually swooning at the romance and the Scotland descriptions, but that feeling was missing for this one.

A lovely story of overcoming grief and guilt to find a way to live again. Rosie is a great character and I enjoyed her story.

🌟🌟🌟🌟 A Cozy, Feel-Good Read

This is a charming story set on the beautiful Scottish coast. The author does a great job bringing the setting to life.. The main character’s journey of healing and starting over is heartwarming, and the romance is sweet. It’s not a perfect read (some parts drag a bit), but overall it’s cozy, uplifting, and just what you want in a feel-good escape. Great for fans of small-town stories with a touch of mystery and a whole lot of charm.

Thank you NetGalley & HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, for sending this book for review consideration.

2.5 ⭐️ A Scottish Lighthouse Escape by: Julie Shackman is Publishing July 30, 2025 with HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter

Okay, so I'm going to be very honest in that it was really hard to decide on what I wanted to rate this book. It is one I kept putting down not really wanting to read but still wanted to finish. I loved the location and setting. I was beautiful described and I wish I could visit it. I love the coastal small town/village vibe. I wasn't shocked about Joe, saw it coming from the instance he was introduced. While the characters all had promise I couldn't connect enough to them. I got the feeling of what the idea and wanting was there was something that didn't click for me. It is a good story and I like the premise of it but unfortunately, I personally wasn't a fan.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the ARC copy allowing me shares my honest thoughts.

Rosie Winters a romance novelist, has her wonderful life turned upside down and runs away to Rowan Bay where so spent holidays with her grandparents, before they passed away.

Hiding away from all that she has known, along comes the new lighthouse keeper, Mitch, that sends her thoughts and heart into a frenzy!

Can they both forget their pasts and trust each other?

A heartwarming story of loves lost and found!

Rosie Ward is a romance writer, using her grandmother’s maiden name as her pen name, Rosie Winters. She has published six romance novels and has started her next novel. When tragedy strikes Rosie is left grieving and cannot finish her next novel.

She travels to Rowan Bay in the Scottish Highlands to spend time in a cottage that had been her grandmother’s. Her grandmother died six months earlier and Rosie needs to sort out the cottage.

Rosie just wants time alone to grieve but someone is watching her cottage, and she reaches out for help from the new lighthouse keeper.

This was a romance about writers, artists, secrets and families. Lots of twists and turns.

I loved the descriptions of Rowan Bay and the antics of Rosie's dog, Bronte.

Thank you NetGalley and One More Chapter for a chance to read and review this E-Book. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

This was a lovely feel good read. Robin is a romance writer, but when her marriage fails she dosent want to write again. She takes herself off to her family home in Scotland where she wants to prove her grandmother was a great artist. She meets the dashing lighthouse keeper, but will romance blossom? Lovely summer read with a sprinkle of romance, 4 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book and I am so appreciative of the opportunity to leave a review. Unfortunately, I was really hoping to enjoy this book more.,
I had to DNF it at 20%. There’s just something odd about the writing, the characters don’t express hardly any emotion when things happen. The characters and the writing style feels robotic. There’s something way off. The sentences seem to not flow very well, I’m not sure but it almost seems as if the book was written with AI. I had such a difficult time connecting with the characters. It just seemed as if it went from one extreme to the other without any explanation of what’s going on. Rosie randomly declared she wanted to stop writing because she found out her husband cheated on her. Out of nowhere she just says “I’m never writing again” and there was no lead up to it as to why. I’m not a fan of delivering negative reviews on books because I truly love to read, and I really did try to enjoy this book, but the writing style was just way off. It doesn’t flow well, and the character development wasn’t there.

3.5 Stars
One Liner: Hopeful

When romance author Rosie Winters’s fairy tale marriage ends, she decides it’s time for a fresh start and moves to Scotland. As she enjoys the summer at her late grandmother’s coastal cottage, she bumps into the lighthouse’s new keeper, Mitch.
It seems like they could help each other and make a future together if they are willing to work for it.
The story comes in Rosie’s first-person POV.

My Thoughts:
I wondered why the author’s name sounded familiar until I realized I had read another book from this standalone series. Luckily, I like this a bit more than the other one.
The Scottish setting is beautiful, and the lighthouse has a decent role, so the title suits the book. I love the descriptions of Rowan Bay, the sea, the misty pathways, the unexpected storms, etc.
Bronte and Kane, the two adorable dogs, steal the show in many ways. You can see Brontë running on the cover. Cutie, right?
There’s also a subplot of sorts about the FMC’s late grandmother. It was well done, even if the climax was a bit too saccharine (and that comes from someone who likes HEA). Guess it aligns with the genre’s vibe to an extent.
The book touches upon some triggering topics like infidelity, spousal death, death of parents and loved ones, jealousy, confidence issues, etc.
This is again women’s fiction with a touch of romance, like the previous book I read (#7). However, it worked better since I could see a bit of attraction between the main leads, and it brought everything together.
To summarize, A Scottish Lighthouse Escape is a hopeful read despite the predictability and a too-sweet ending. It’s pretty fast-paced and can be completed in a couple of sittings.
Thank you, NetGalley and One More Chapter (HarperCollins), for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Sometimes the best way to mend a broken heart… is to run straight to the edge of the world. 🐚🌊

Julie Shackman delivers a charming, heart-tugging escape in A Scottish Lighthouse Escape—a warm, windswept romance that blends emotional healing with seaside serenity and just the right dash of mystery.

Still reeling from the end of her own storybook romance, author Rosie Winters flees to her late grandmother’s coastal cottage in the Scottish Highlands. With dolphin-filled bays, a rugged lighthouse, and two delightful dogs, it’s the perfect place to wallow, regroup—and perhaps, begin again. What she doesn’t expect is Mitch: the gruff, enigmatic lighthouse keeper with a past of his own.

From art to old love letters, buried grief to quiet second chances, Shackman brings emotional depth and lyrical charm to this tender small-town romance. The gentle pacing allows Rosie and Mitch’s connection to bloom organically, making every moment of growth feel earned and genuine.

This is more than just a “feel-good” read—it’s about rediscovering yourself in the aftermath of loss, and the quiet magic of starting over when the tide turns in your favour.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — A lovely, windswept read full of heart, healing, and Highland charm. Perfect for fans of second-chance love, misty shores, and emotionally grounded storytelling.

Thanks netgalley for an advanced copy of this book for my review. 3.5* Being totally honest, not my favourite by this author, can't put my finger on exactly why, but that said, a nice light-hearted easy read.

Julies last book had me hook line and sinker. so i was rushing and gushing to be ale to read this one! Logan and Darcie in the last book absolutely had my heart. their story made me fall in love with them and the story Julie had given to us.
this book was just as wonderful and had the same charm and characters that i immediately feel for. i didn't want to be disloyal to the first book or characters. but turns out i didn't need to be worried. there is enough love to go around, ha!
this is book 9 in the series and slots in to the others perfectly. my worry now though is will Julie feel she wants to bring them to an end soon. can we not be in this series forever?
this book gives us Rosie. she needs an escape from her life. or the life she now found out wasn't what she thought it once was. or who she was with wasn't certainly. there is a place she thinks of fondly and the perfectly place for space. and so she sets off for the are long cherished in her memories.
the emotions hit new levels in this book. i was blown away by how aware of her character Julie was. its was like they were indeed real to her, people she knew, could picture, could hear the thoughts of. and then we got to know them too. there were raw and exposed moments to the book but still it managed to feel uplifting, warm and gorgeous.
the details were perfect in this book. when we were watching ROsies journey both in life and love and even down to her lovely little dog. it was also so cleverly put together and i just flowed through it. and of course who comes with the dog? yes, thats right Mitch comes with the dog. and he could be more great.
brilliant book. another step up and step in to my heart from Julie.

A total make you feel good story. The characters were real and well developed, the plot was cute and flowed nicely.
Great summer beach read for sure!
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A fun, light-hearted beach read, which will keep your attention.
I enjoyed reading this book, and liked the unusual setting.

Great poolside book - one of ra day at the beach

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a heartwarming, uplifting story set in a beautiful small seaside place in Scotland. There are some unexpected turns in the plot with some past secrets. The characters are really likeable, and there is a satisfying happy ending.
I can recommend this book to anyone who likes sweet romances.

Author Rosie hasn't been back to her Grandmother's cottage since the funeral, but after another loss and subsequent discovered deception she needs to get away. She needs some time to be alone and shut off from the world with just her little dog companion.
However Rosie didn't account for her solace being interupted by not one but two strangers. When Mitch appears as the new lighthouse keeper, she doesn't want anything to do with him, she doesn't need the help of another man! But that's about to change, especially when a mystery stranger starts hanging around the cottage.

A lovely heartwarming read that you will want to keep on reading.